U.S. patent number 9,245,418 [Application Number 12/614,049] was granted by the patent office on 2016-01-26 for multiple game gaming machine.
This patent grant is currently assigned to ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED. The grantee listed for this patent is Chi We Chim, William George Cormack, Peter Mitchell. Invention is credited to Chi We Chim, William George Cormack, Peter Mitchell.
United States Patent |
9,245,418 |
Mitchell , et al. |
January 26, 2016 |
Multiple game gaming machine
Abstract
A gaming machine comprises a display and a game controller
arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display. The
game controller is arranged to play a game wherein at least one
random event is caused to be displayed on the display and, if a
predefined winning event occurs, a prize is awarded. A plurality of
sub-games constitute the game displayed on the display. As an
initial display, fewer than a full set of images of each of the
sub-games are displayed to show a partial outcome of the game, the
fewer than the full set of images being representative of a
determination of an expected value for each of the sub-games.
Inventors: |
Mitchell; Peter (Lane Cove,
AU), Cormack; William George (Lane Cove,
AU), Chim; Chi We (Lane Cove, AU) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Mitchell; Peter
Cormack; William George
Chim; Chi We |
Lane Cove
Lane Cove
Lane Cove |
N/A
N/A
N/A |
AU
AU
AU |
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|
Assignee: |
ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA
PTY LIMITED (AU)
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Family
ID: |
31500038 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/614,049 |
Filed: |
November 6, 2009 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20100048289 A1 |
Feb 25, 2010 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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10547684 |
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8182332 |
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PCT/AU2004/000260 |
Mar 1, 2004 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Mar 3, 2003 [AU] |
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2003900993 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F
17/3262 (20130101); G07F 17/32 (20130101); G07F
17/3267 (20130101); G07F 17/3258 (20130101); G07F
17/3213 (20130101); G07F 17/34 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63F
9/24 (20060101); G07F 17/32 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;463/16-20,25,30 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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5502600 |
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Mar 2001 |
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AU |
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5529401 |
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Nov 2001 |
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AU |
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2314669 |
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Mar 2001 |
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CA |
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2405585 |
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Nov 2001 |
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CA |
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1082980 |
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Mar 2001 |
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EP |
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1277178 |
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Jan 2003 |
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EP |
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0182245 |
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Nov 2001 |
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WO |
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2004078297 |
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Sep 2004 |
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WO |
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200004685 |
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Mar 2001 |
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ZA |
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Other References
International Search Report, PCT/AU2004/000260, dated Apr. 15,
2004. cited by applicant.
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Primary Examiner: Rowland; Steve
Attorney, Agent or Firm: McAndrews, Held & Malloy,
Ltd.
Parent Case Text
RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/547,684, filed Aug. 30, 2005, which is a
National Stage Application of International Application No.
PCT/AU04/00260, having an international filing date of Mar. 1,
2004, which claims priority to Australian Patent Application No.
2003900993, filed Mar. 3, 2003, all of which are incorporated
herein by reference in their entirety.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A gaming machine comprising an electronic display, a random
number generator, and a game controller configured to display a
plurality of separate sub-games on the electronic display, and
wherein outcomes of a first of the plurality of separate sub-games
is determined using the random number generator and outcomes of the
other sub-games are determined by the game controller based on said
outcomes of said first of the plurality of the separate sub-games,
wherein the separate sub-games are playable and displayed
simultaneously on the electronic display, each of the sub-games
being a spinning reel game and comprising a respective plurality of
paylines, wherein the number of paylines of any one of the
sub-games is equal to the number of paylines of any other one of
the sub-games, and wherein the game controller is further
configured to receive a single wager of a predefined plurality of
credits, wherein the predefined plurality of credits are selected
from a set of predefined plurality of credits each comprising an
equal number of credits to be wagered on each payline of each
sub-game, the game controller being further configured to respond
to selection of the predefined plurality of credits and to display
a partial game outcome for each sub-game, the game controller being
further configured to receive a selection of the plurality of
separate sub-games to continue playing, and when the plurality of
separate sub-games selected is less than all of the plurality of
sub-games displayed, to transfer the plurality of credits of the
single wager to the selected sub-games.
2. The gaming machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the game
controller is further configured to cause only one wager meter and
a plurality of win meters to be displayed on the electronic
display, wherein the one wager meter is used by the game controller
to display a value of the single wager, each of the win meters
being associated with one of the separate sub-games and used by the
game controller to display a number of credits won as a result of
playing the associated one of the separate sub-games.
3. The gaming machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predefined
plurality of credits comprise a minimum credit amount corresponding
to a minimum payline wager amount and at least one other credit
amount that is an non-zero multiple of the minimum credit
amount.
4. A method for use with a gaming machine having a controller, a
random number generator, and an electronic display device, the
method comprising: displaying, via the controller, a plurality of
separate sub-games simultaneously on the electronic display device,
each of the separate sub-games being a spinning reel game of chance
comprising a plurality of respective paylines, wherein the number
of paylines for any one of the separate sub-games is equal to the
number of paylines for any other one of the separate sub-games;
determining outcomes of a first of the plurality of separate
sub-games using the random number generator; determining outcomes
of the other of the plurality of separate sub-games based on said
outcomes of said first of the plurality of the separate sub-games
via the game controller; receiving, via the controller, a single
wager of a predefined plurality of credits, wherein the predefined
plurality of credits are selected from a set of predefined
plurality of credits each comprising an equal number of credits to
be wagered on each pay line of each separate sub-game; responsive
to selection of the predefined plurality of credits, displaying a
partial game outcome for each sub-game; and receiving a selection
of the plurality of separate sub-games to continue playing,
wherein, when the selected sub-games is less than all of the
plurality of sub-games displayed, the plurality of credits of the
single wager are transferred to the selected sub-games.
5. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising causing
only one wager meter and a plurality of win meters to be displayed
on the electronic display device, the one wager meter being used to
display a value of the single wager, each of the win meters being
associated with one of the separate sub-games and being used to
display a number of credits won as a result of playing the
associated one of the separate sub-games.
6. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the predefined
plurality of credits comprise a minimum credit amount corresponding
to a minimum payline wager amount, and at least one other credit
amount that is an non-zero multiple of the minimum credit
amount.
7. The gaming machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the game
controller is further configured (1) to maintain the visibility of
said selected number of sub-games on said electronic display, and
(2) to fade the other sub-games into the background on said
electronic display.
8. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said emphasizing
includes maintaining the visibility of said selected number of
sub-games on said electronic display device and fading the other
sub-games into the background on said electronic display device.
Description
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[Not Applicable]
MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE
[Not Applicable]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a gaming machine. More particularly, the
invention relates to a gaming machine and to an improvement to a
game played on such a gaming machine.
Players who regularly play gaming machines quickly tire of
particular games and therefore it is necessary for manufacturers of
these machines to develop innovative game features which add
interest to the games. In so doing, it is hoped to keep players
amused and therefore willing to continue playing the game as well
as to attract new players.
Also, with the growth that has occurred in the gaming machine
market, there is intense competition between manufacturers to
supply various existing and new venues. When selecting a supplier
of gaming machines, the operator of a venue will often pay close
attention to the popularity of various games with their patrons.
Therefore, gaming machine manufacturers are keen to devise games
and/or game features which are popular with the players as a
mechanism for improving sales, retaining customers and attracting
new customers.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a
gaming machine comprising
a display;
a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed
on the display, the game controller being arranged to play a game
wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the
display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, a prize is
awarded; and
a plurality of sub-games constituting the game displayed on the
display with, as an initial display, fewer than a full set of
images of each of the sub-games being displayed to show a partial
outcome of the game, the fewer than the full set of images being
representative of a determination of an expected value for each of
the sub-games.
An "expected value" is a value based on the probability of
obtaining a winning payout and the amount of that payout for each
type of prize winning combination of symbols.
The invention is intended particularly for gaming machines
displaying reel-type games, commonly referred to in Australia as
poker machines and, in the USA, as slot machines. It will, however,
be appreciated that the game of the gaming machine could encompass
any other type of wagering game such as, for example, a ball-type
game (such as keno, pachinko, bingo, or the like).
For ease of explanation, the invention will be described with
reference to its application to reel-type wagering games. The
reel-type game may be implemented as a video simulation of spinning
reels.
Each sub-game may have a plurality of image carrying elements, each
of which carries a plurality of images required to be considered in
assessing an outcome of the game. The image carrying elements may,
for example, be five spinning reels. In this regard, it is to be
understood that an image, as referred to above, is the set of three
visible symbols of a reel strip which is displayed at any one time
as is done conventionally for reel-type games.
In the initial display of each sub-game, fewer than all of the
image carrying elements of the sub-games may be displayed to
display the partial outcomes of the sub-games.
In the case where the sub-game comprises five reels, for the first
sub-game the reel stopping positions of reels 1, 3 and 5 may be
determined initially to provide the partial outcome for the first
sub-game. The reel stopping positions may be determined in a
conventional manner such as by the use of a random number generator
(RNG) of the game controller means.
Once the reel stopping positions of reels 1, 3 and 5 of the first
sub-game have been determined, the expected value for those
reel-stopping positions of the first sub-game may be determined.
Thus, the expected value of the first sub-game as derived from the
displayed partial outcome of the first sub-game may be used to
select the displayed fewer than all of the image carrying elements
of the remaining sub-games in the initial display.
The game controller may include a data storage element in which
data relating to expected values for each of the remaining
sub-games are stored. The data storage element may contain data for
the expected values of each possible reel-stopping position of each
of the remaining sub-games. The data may be stored in the form of
look-up tables for each of the sub-games.
Once the expected value for the first sub-game has been determined,
the game controller may access the look-up tables for each of the
remaining sub-games to ascertain the expected value for each of the
remaining sub-games which most closely approximates the expected
value for the first sub-game. It will be appreciated that, in many
instances, the expected value for any one of the remaining
sub-games may not be exactly the same as that for the first
sub-game. In such a case, the expected value most closely
approximating that of the first sub-game may be selected for the
remaining sub-game by the game controller.
Once the expected values of the remaining sub-games have been
selected by the game controller, the reel stopping positions for
reels 1, 3 and 5 of the remaining sub-games corresponding to the
selected expected values, may be determined.
After the reel-stopping positions for each of the remaining
sub-games has been determined by the game controller, reels 1, 3
and 5 of each of the sub-games may then be displayed on the display
of the gaming machine.
The positions at which the second and fourth reels of each sub-game
are displayed may be left blank.
Prior to any of the sub-games being displayed a player may be
required to place a wager. Initially, the wager may be placed on
all of the sub-games of the game. When the first, third and fifth
reel of each of the sub-games have been displayed, the player may,
at the player's option, decide to leave the wager on each of the
sub-games or, instead, transfer the total wager to one or less than
all of the sub-games with the non-selected sub-game/s then being
disabled, for example, by being faded into a background display on
the display means.
If all of the sub-games are selected by the player, each sub-game
may have its second and fourth reels revealed in a spinning
condition which stop to determine whether or not a prize winning
combination or combinations has resulted in any of the sub-games.
Conversely, if only one or less than all of the sub-games is
selected by the player, only the second and fourth reels of the
selected games may be revealed and any prize winning combinations
in the selected sub-games is paid out.
Each selected sub-game may have a feature game associated with it
and, if that feature is won, the feature is also played before the
game is concluded. The feature associated with each sub-game may be
a no-cost feature. In other words, the player does not have to
wager any additional amount to be eligible to participate in the
feature of that sub-game.
The feature associated with each sub-game may be triggered by the
controller independently of the result of a base sub-game preceding
the triggered feature. Thus the feature does not depend on expected
values associated with the relevant sub-game.
The features associated with the sub-games may differ from one
another. Therefore, as indicated above, each feature may have its
own theme, etc.
Further, the game may have a jackpot bonus feature associated with
it. The bonus feature may be in the form of a progressive jackpot
feature.
The progressive jackpot may be triggered in any of a number of
ways. One form of trigger may be a wager-based trigger where, the
more that is wagered on the game, the higher the chances are of
obtaining the progressive jackpot.
The progressive jackpot may comprise at least two jackpot levels
being a minor jackpot and a mega jackpot. When the bonus feature is
triggered, an animation may be displayed which indicates to the
player which level of jackpot the player will win.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a
gaming machine comprising
a display;
a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed
on the display, the game controller being arranged to play a game
wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the
display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, a prize is
awarded; and
the game being in the form of a spinning-reel game and the game
controller using a table of expected values to determine displayed
reel-stopping positions of less than all of the reels of the
game.
The game may comprise a plurality of sub-games, each sub-game being
in the form of a spinning reel game in respect of which the game
controller uses the table of expected values to determine displayed
reel-stopping positions of less than all of the reels of each
sub-game.
According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a
method of playing a wagering game, the method including the steps
of
generating a partial outcome for a first sub-game of the game;
determining an expected value of an outcome of the first sub-game
arising from said partial outcome;
determining partial outcomes for remaining sub-games of the game,
the partial outcomes for each of the remaining sub-games being
representative of an expected value for each of the remaining
sub-games, the expected value for each of the remaining sub-games
being approximately the same as the expected value for the first
sub-game; and
displaying the partial outcomes of the sub-games of the game on a
display of a gaming apparatus.
Each sub-game may have a plurality of image carrying elements, each
of which carries a plurality of images required to be considered in
assessing an outcome of the game and the method may include, in an
initial display of each sub-game, displaying fewer than all of the
image carrying elements of the sub-games to display a partial
outcome of each of the sub-games.
The method may include determining a display configuration, i.e.
the reel stopping position of each reel, for the fewer than all of
the image carrying elements of the first sub-game to provide the
partial outcome for the first sub-game.
In the case where the sub-game comprises five reels, for the first
sub-game the reel stopping positions of reels 1, 3 and 5 may be
determined initially to provide the partial outcome for the first
sub-game. The reel stopping positions may be determined in a
conventional manner such as by the use of a random number generator
(RNG) of the game controller means.
The method may include, once the display configuration of the
partial outcome of the first sub-game has been determined,
determining the expected value of the first sub-game. Further, the
method may include using the expected value of the first sub-game
to select the displayed fewer than all of the image carrying
elements constituting the partial outcomes of the remaining
sub-games.
The method may include storing data relating to expected values for
each of the remaining sub-games in a game controller of the game
playing apparatus, more particularly, a data storage element of the
game controller. The data storage element may contain data for the
expected values of each possible reel-stopping position of each of
the remaining sub-games. Thus, the method may include storing the
data in the form of look-up tables for each of the sub-games.
Once the expected value for the first sub-game has been determined,
the method may include accessing the look-up tables for each of the
remaining sub-games to ascertain the expected value for each of the
remaining sub-games which most closely approximates the expected
value for the first sub-game. Once the expected values of the
remaining sub-games have been selected, the method may include
determining the displayed fewer than all of the image carrying
elements of the remaining sub-games and displaying the fewer than
all of the image carrying elements of the remaining sub-games.
The method may include not displaying any information relating to
the remaining, non-displayed image carrying elements of each of the
sub-games. In other words, the positions at which the second and
fourth reels of each sub-game are displayed may be left blank.
The method may include requiring a player to place a wager prior to
displaying the partial outcomes of the sub-games. The method may
include initially placing the wager on all of the sub-games of the
game. Then, the method may include, when the partial outcomes of
the sub-games have been displayed, offering the player the option
of transferring the wager to one or fewer than all of the
sub-games. The non-selected sub-game/s then being disabled, for
example, by being faded into a background display on the display
means.
If all of the sub-games are selected by the player, each sub-game
may have its second and fourth reels revealed in a spinning
condition which stop to determine whether or not a prize winning
combination or combinations has resulted in any of the sub-games.
Conversely, if only one or less than all of the sub-games is
selected by the player, only the second and fourth reels of the
selected games may be revealed and any prize winning combinations
in the selected sub-games are paid out.
Each selected sub-game may have a feature game associated with it
and the method may include, if that feature is won, playing off the
feature before concluding the game. The method may include awarding
the feature as a no-cost feature.
Further, the method may include triggering the feature associated
with each sub-game independently of the result of a base sub-game
preceding the triggered feature. Thus the feature does not depend
on expected values associated with the relevant sub-game.
The method may include differentiating the features associated with
the sub-games from one another.
The game may have a bonus jackpot feature associated with it, the
bonus jackpot feature being a progressive jackpot feature having at
least two jackpot levels and the method may include displaying an
animation which indicates to the player which level of jackpot the
player will win.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a
game to be played on a gaming apparatus, the gaming apparatus
having a display and being controlled by a game controller arranged
to control images displayed on the display, the game comprising a
plurality of sub-games constituting the game displayed on the
display with, as an initial display, fewer than a full set of
images of each of the sub-games being displayed to show a partial
outcome of the game, the fewer than the full set of images being
representative of a determination of an expected value for each of
the sub-games.
A "gaming apparatus" is to be understood to include apparatus that
does not require the wagering of a stake in order to play the game
and further includes apparatus which is connectable to a
network.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is now described by way of example with reference to
the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a gaming machine, in accordance
with the invention;
FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a control circuit of the gaming
machine;
FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a keypad of the gaming
machine;
FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a screen display of an
initial condition of sub-games constituting a game played on the
gaming machine of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 shows a schematic screen display of one final condition of
the sub-games of the game of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 shows a schematic screen display of another final condition
of the game of FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 shows a screen display of an initial condition of the
game;
FIG. 8 shows a screen display of the final condition of the
game;
FIG. 9 shows a flow chart of a jackpot feature optionally forming
part of the game; and
FIG. 10 shows an animation relating to the jackpot feature.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 generally designates an exemplary
embodiment of a gaming machine. The machine 10 includes a console
12 having a display means in the form of a video display unit 14 on
which a game 16 is played, in use. The video display unit 14 may be
implemented as a cathode ray screen device, a liquid crystal
display, a plasma screen, or the like. The game 16 comprises a
plurality of spinning reel sub-games 18. A midtrim 20 of the
machine 10 houses a keypad 22 for enabling a player to play the
game 16. The midtrim 20 also houses a credit input mechanism 24
including a coin input chute 24.1 and a bill collector 24.2.
The machine 10 includes a top box 26 on which artwork 28 is
carried. The artwork 28 includes paytables, details of bonus
awards, etc. In addition, as will be described in greater detail
below, the top box carries two displays 42 and 44 for a progressive
jackpot bonus feature.
A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the console 12 for cash payouts
from the machine 10.
Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, a control means or control
circuit 32 is illustrated. A program which implements the game and
user interface is run on a processor 34 of the control circuit 32.
The processor 34 forms part of a controller 36 that drives the
screen of the video display unit 14 and that receives input signals
from sensors 38. The sensors 38 include sensors associated with the
bank 22 of buttons and touch sensors mounted in the screen of the
video display unit 14. The controller 36 also receives input pulses
from the mechanism 24 to determine whether or not a player has
provided sufficient credit to commence playing. The mechanism 24
may, instead of the coin input chute 24.1 or the bill collector
24.2, or in addition thereto, be a credit card reader (not shown)
or any other type of validation device.
Finally, the controller 36 drives a payout mechanism 40 which, for
example, may be a coin hopper for feeding coins to the coin tray 30
to make a pay out to a player when the player wishes to redeem his
or her credit.
As indicated above, the game 16 comprises four sub-games 18. Each
sub-game 18 is a spinning reel-game comprising five spinning reels.
The reels are displayed as simulations of spinning reels on the
display of the video display unit 14.
The preferred implementation of the game 16 comprises the use of
four of the Applicant's popular games. Hence, the first sub-game
18.1 (FIGS. 4-8) is the Applicant's Queen of the Nile.RTM. game,
the second sub-game 18.2 is the Applicant's Penguin Pays.RTM. game,
the third sub-game 18.3 is the Applicant's Dolphin Treasure.RTM.
game and the fourth sub-game is the Applicant's Sweethearts.RTM.
game ("Queen of the Nile", "Penguin Pays", "Dolphin Treasure" and
"Sweethearts" are all registered trade marks of the Applicant).
The Queen of the Nile.RTM. sub-game is a five-reel spinning reel
game where three or more scattered Pyramid symbols 46 (FIG. 4)
award a feature. The feature comprises fifteen free games where all
prizes are trebled. The free games can be re-triggered during the
feature.
The Penguin Pays.RTM. sub-game 18.2 comprises a feature where, when
a Penguin symbol 48 appears on a first reel and a background-coin
symbol 50 appears on the fifth reel, a feature is awarded. During
the feature a skating penguin symbol moves serially to all
positions on the reels of the sub-game 18.2 and, at each position,
except where a scatter symbol appears, substitutes for the
underlying symbol.
The Dolphin Treasure.RTM. sub-game 18.3 has a feature where, when
three or more Treasure Chest scatter symbols (not shown) appears
anywhere on the display fifteen free games are awarded where all
prizes are trebled. Once again, the free game feature can be
re-triggered during the playing of the free games.
The Sweethearts.RTM. sub-game 18.4 has a feature which is won with
any scatter win. The initial scatter win is held and the remaining
reels are re-spun three times. During the re-spins, scatters pay in
an "any" combination. Any improved scatter win is held and three
free spins re-commence. The scatter symbol is a heart symbol
52.
In order to play the game 16, the player is required to place a
wager. The sub-games 18.1-18.4 have been implemented as twenty line
games. In order to simplify the mathematics involved, the player
must place a wager of at least one bet per line on all twenty lines
of each of the sub-games 18.1-18.4. Accordingly, as indicated by a
bet meter 54 in FIGS. 4-6, the player has to bet a minimum stake of
80 credits.
In this regard, it is to be noted that each sub-game 18.1-18.4 has
a win meter 56.1-56.4, respectively, associated with it.
The player places the wager by pressing one of four buttons 58, 60,
62 or 64 on the keypad 22. Button 58 is pressed if one bet per line
is to be wagered, button 60 is pressed if two bets per line are to
be wagered, button 62 is pressed if three bets per line are to be
wagered and button 64 is pressed if ten bets per line are to be
wagered.
The player then commences the game 16 by pressing button 66 on the
keypad 22.
As an initial step, the controller 34 selects, randomly using a
random number generator, reel stopping positions for the first,
third and fifth reel of the sub-game 18.1. Once these reel stopping
positions have been determined, and before anything is displayed on
the display of the video display unit 14, the controller 34
determines the expected value arising as a result of the selected
reel stopping positions for reels 1, 3 and 5 of the sub-game
18.1.
The controller 34 has a data storage device in which look-up tables
for each of sub-games 18.2-18.4 are stored. The look-up table for
each of the sub-games 18.2-18.4 contains expected values for all
possible reel stopping positions of each of the sub-games
18.2-18.4.
Thus, once the expected value for the reel stopping positions of
reels 1, 3 and 5 of sub-game 18.1 has been determined by the
controller 34, the controller 34 accesses the look-up tables for
each of the remaining sub-games 18.2-18.4. The controller 34
determines expected values for the remaining sub-games 18.2-18.4
which are approximately the same as the determined expected value
for the sub-game 18.1. It is not necessary that the expected values
for the sub-games 18.2-18.4 be exactly the same as that for
sub-game 18.1 but can be slightly more or slightly less than the
expected value for sub-game 18.1.
Once the expected values for the sub-games 18.2-81.4 have been
ascertained via the look-up tables of the controller 34, the
controller 34 selects reel stopping positions for reels 1, 3 and 5
for each of the remaining sub-games 18.2-18.4. It will be
appreciated that the selected reel stopping positions for reels 1,
3 and 5 correspond to the ascertained expected values for the
sub-games 18.2-18.4.
Once these reel-stopping positions have been selected by the
controller 34, the reel stopping positions of reels 1, 3 and 5 for
each of the sub-games 18.1-18.4 are displayed on the display of the
video display unit 14 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 of the
drawings.
The player then has two options. The player can either elect to
play all four sub-games 18.1-18.4 or any one of the sub-games
18.1-18.4. The options available to the player are displayed by way
of a message 70 (FIG. 4) on the display.
Should the player desire to play all four games, the player presses
button 68 (FIG. 3) on the keypad 22. When the player presses button
68, the second and fourth reels for each of the sub-games 18.1-18.4
become visible and spin. The second and fourth reels then come to a
stop to show, for example, the result illustrated in FIG. 5 of the
drawings. A message 72 is displayed showing that the player had
played all four games and had bet one bet or credit per line as
shown by message 74.
In the examples shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, the only win
occurring was a prize of 600 credits as shown on win meter 56.2.
However, because the trigger condition of symbols 48 and 50 was
present, the player is awarded the feature associated with Penguin
Pays.RTM. and a total win of 10,040 credits results as shown on the
win meter 76 of the gaming machine 10.
Should the player rather desire to play only one of the sub-games
18.1-18.4, the player presses an appropriate button 78, 80, 82 or
84 associated with the sub-games 18.1, 18.2, 18.3 and 18.4,
respectively.
In the example illustrated, it is assumed that the player has
selected to play the Sweethearts.RTM. sub-game 18.4. The player
does this by pressing button 84.
The result of the player electing to play the Sweethearts.RTM. game
is shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. A message 86 appears advising
the player that only the Sweethearts.RTM. game is being played.
Importantly, the credits which had initially been bet on the other
sub-games 18.1-18.3 are transferred to the sub-game 18.4 so that,
as shown by message 88 four credits or bets per line are wagered on
the sub-game 18.4.
The sub-games 18.1-18.3 fade into a background of the display so
that only sub-game 18.4 is visible. The second and fourth reels of
the sub-game 18.4 appear, spin and then come to a stop. The result,
as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, is that three scatter symbols
52 are spun up in the sub-game 18.4 resulting in a payment of 100
credits multiplied by the number of credits per line for a total of
400 credits. The win is credited to the win meter 56.4 of the
sub-game 18.4 and the win meter 76 of the gaming machine 10.
The game is then regarded as concluded and the player, in order to
continue playing the gaming machine 10 must place a further
wager.
The game 16 includes a progressive jackpot feature. The progressive
jackpot bonus feature is a two tier jackpot game consisting of a
mega jackpot, the present value of which is displayed on the
display 42 of the gaming machine 10, and a minor jackpot, the
present value of which is displayed on the display 44 of the gaming
machine 10. The display 42 is a nine digit display and the display
44 is a five digit display.
The progressive jackpot feature can be won at random during any
bought game. The chances of winning the jackpot feature are related
to the size of the bet wagered. The higher the bet wagered, the
greater the likelihood of winning the jackpot feature.
When the jackpot feature is triggered, the screen display on the
video display unit 14 changes to a screen display 90 as shown in
FIG. 10 of the drawings. The screen display 90 is in the form of a
circle 92 having a segment 94 representative of the mega jackpot
with the remaining part of the circle 92 being representative of
the minor jackpot. A marker 96 rolls around the outside of the
circle 92 and where the marker 96 comes to rest relative to the
circle 92 determines whether the minor jackpot is awarded or the
mega jackpot is awarded. If the marker 96 comes to rest opposite
the segment 94 the mega jackpot is awarded. If the marker 96 comes
to rest at any other positions relative to the circle 92, the minor
jackpot is awarded.
The jackpot feature is awarded only once all wins and features
associated with the sub-games 18.1-18.4 have been completed. A
message will appear on the display prior to the display changing to
the screen display 90 advising the player that, to commence with
the jackpot feature, the Spin button 66 on the keypad 22 must be
pressed. When this occurs, the screen display 90 replaces the
display of the sub-games 18.1-18.4.
Hence, it is an advantage of the invention that a gaming machine 10
is provided having a number of games thereon which increases player
interest and encourages play. It also exposes players to the
Applicant's most popular games and can be used for introducing new
games to players.
Use of the look-up tables ensures that the overall return to player
percentage of the gaming machine 10 can be maintained at required
or regulated levels.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous
variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as
shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit
or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present
embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as
illustrative and not restrictive.
* * * * *